Tracy Ehrlich reflects on her extensive career at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences, including her current role as director of sponsored programs.
By Jordan Rogers
Tracy Ehrlich
It is not a stretch of the imagination to say that the University of Miami runs in Tracy Ehrlich’s blood. Ehrlich, who has worked in the College of Arts and Sciences for over 40 years, has a long and rich history with the University.
In fact, her University ties go back to childhood. As the daughter of Rosemary Helenbrook, a University employee for many years, Ehrlich practically grew up on the Gables campus.
Her mother’s work gave Ehrlich an up-close view of the University’s inner workings. The experience stayed with Ehrlich, as she eventually pursued a career in university administration herself.
After high school, Ehrlich enrolled at the University. When it came time to find an on-campus job, she gravitated to the familiar world of campus administration, working as a student assistant in President Edward T. Foote II’s office.
When Ehrlich took a break from her studies after getting married, she transitioned to full-time work as an administrative assistant in the office of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“For a while, my mother and I both worked full-time here,” Ehrlich recalled. “The administration and staff would often refer to me as ‘Rosemary’s daughter,’ which gave me a sense of pride.”
Ehrlich was a natural fit in the college.
“From the start, it was fun and fulfilling work: I planned a lot of the honorary degree luncheons. This gave me the opportunity to meet and work with many interesting people on behalf of the college, including Jane Goodall and Jerry Herman, the Ring Theatre’s namesake.”
Ehrlich has served under 11 deans, from Arthur Brown beginning in the late 1970s to Leonidas G. Bachas, the current dean of the college.
In 2001, Ehrlich resumed her studies alongside her official job duties. With much diligence, she navigated a tricky work-school balance and earned a B.F.A. in sculpture in 2017.
Ehrlich’s passion for art is eclipsed only by the quality of her work and her decades-long dedication to the college.
As part of the team that launched Arts & Sciences in the Fall 1998 semester, she is one of the founding contributors to the college’s bi-annual magazine.
“Writing articles for the magazine piqued my interest in the college faculty’s research and scholarly work,” Ehrlich recalled. “Seeing the continued success of the magazine is fulfilling.”
During Ehrlich’s time working in advancement, she helped raise money that boosted the success of the glassblowing program. These funds also supported students in the Department of Art and Art History, where Ehrlich completed much of her B.F.A. coursework.
“Those fundraising efforts helped to popularize the UM glassblowing program and attracted prominent artists to teach in the department or in the Miami Hot Art Glass Workshop series,” Ehrlich said.
In her current role as the director of sponsored programs, Ehrlich provides expert administrative support to the college’s faculty and students as they navigate the complicated world of grants.
“I help them at every stage of the grant lifecycle,” Ehrlich explained. “When they receive the grants, I serve as the intermediary between the faculty and institutions and/or federal agencies awarding them the money.”
Ehrlich’s ties to the University have also supported her in tougher times. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Ehrlich turned to doctors at UHealth to help her devise a plan for treatment.
“I got the exact care that I needed at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. I have been in remission ever since,” Ehrlich said.
In her time on the Coral Gables campus, Ehrlich has played key roles in some of the college’s major successes. From helping faculty land major grants to training generations of college staff members, her legacy speaks for itself.
“I have always been glad and proud to help out in any way I could,” Ehrlich said. “The deans and everyone I worked with in the college and at the U have always made me feel like my accomplishments mattered. I enjoy supporting the faculty and take great joy in their successes.”
